Disk harrow construction



Feb. zo, 1940. H B, RAPP 2,191,098

DISK HARROW CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 6, 1938 /NVE/VTOR HOWARD 5. @APP HAR/W5, /vch Fos 75A' d HARR/s STATES.

PatentedFeb. 205f l `3 faienosf] DISK HAItRowcoNsrnuc'rIoN "flloward B. Rapp,- Santa Ana, 'Calif.ass`lgnor to l Howard B. Rapp and Sally Rapp..copartne'rsy a l doing business asfTowner Manufacturing Co.;`

Santa Ana, Calif.

l Appicatmnseptemter s, iosa-serialm4225535.

` 9 claims. (crm- 220) .invention relates `to diskharrows and, more; particularly, to the construction byvzhich the,`

disks are mounted uponvthe axles ofthe implement. l

are rotatably mounted with regard to a supporting axlejand theimplement is drawn in a direction which is not perpendicularto the axle," a`

very considerable thrust is exerted bythe soil `upon the diSkstending to rnovethem along the l `axleparallel to the axis thereof. Among the ob-` jects of my invention is the provision of afthrust` bearing for `resisting this forcev which is wear-resistant, simple to manufacture, constructed largeolli lly of `stock parts, easyto adjust, and be quickly and thoroughly lubricated. n

Other objects includelthe construction of x a which may a disk narrow having a thrust bearing construc-` tion such` that the entrance of dirtlbetween Athe l bearing `faces 'is prevented, and suchthat the parts whichkare subjected to wear may be easily replaced.

Willbe made apparent` in the following specica- `tion which may bebetter `understood with reference to theaccomyanying drawing in which,

is a` diagrammatic view"0f a two-gang disk narrow; l l

"Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated on the line 2--2 of Figl," `Fig. 3 isa sectionalview of the left end of the bearing construction illustrated in Fig. 2j

. Fig. 4. is asectional :view taken as indicated by `the line`-4 ofFig. 3; and Q l l Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View of a of `my bearing construction.

While myinvention maybe utilized admirar.

with' van.;

ous implements and "devices and may be ernployed on a harrow havingmore than" four gangs, `I have for illustrative purposeslshown in Fig. 1

` `a two-gang disk narrow.` Such a harrow includes draw bars l l connected to a forward frame inwllich there is mountedan axle i 3 upon which are a placedfalpltualityoi disks lll. Thefront frame l l2 ls connectedthrougha pvot i 5 to a rear frame IS. to whicnis secured"l an axle I7 supporting a plurality ci disks i9. "lhe disks M and I9 are concave-convex, the disksl of the `front frame `having .their convex sides toward the pivot i5, and the disks lll of the rear `gang having `their lcon"- v cave sidestoward thefpivot l`J. The frames l2 a and it may be connected by a `stayybarill-pivotally secured toftliefrearframe and adjustably connected "to the iront frame to maintain the gangs in the desired'relative angle. The path of disk narrows in 4which a` plurality of disksy travel oi` theiniplementbeing indicated by the arrow 2|.,the resistance of ytlflesoilfto the concave sides of the disks llland `i@ exertsa very `considerablethrust tendingto movl` the disks along the axle upon wjliichgtliey are supported Referring "toFig 2, thefnurnerals 22 and, 234.

yindicate the right and left side members of a harrow, `rranie which may Ibe the ironttrame` l2..

Each ,ofi the members 22 Iand '23 `has an openingm- Ilttherein inwhich anaxle 225 is supported. The

axlei may be a'solid cylindricalvrod and is protions llwliich extendinto openings 3i formed ink threaded fone uloorreacliend of the axle 251s0f' tliatleachpisadjaeent.one ol the side members one of theside `members, 22 orf' of the frame' a a a j .1 j and connect with the'openingxlil therein `so that Other objects and advantagesof the invention f the. thrust sleeves 2l are. securedagalnst `rota- .'tion. Flushwith the 'other` end of eacl'r of the.

thrust `sleeves isa bearing ring t2 whiohis secured to `the,buter Wall of the thrustsleeve inpany suitable manner, asfby Welding, l The bearing sa is )preferably .formed loi Y.hardened "metal Rotat'ably"v disposedmupon each of".theothrustI sleeves` `,ill is a cylindrical bearingsleeve 33 havfing an inner diameter `slightly larger `than the l external diameter ofI the thrust sleeve 2l' and an projects`V beyond the, outer ends of the bearingl sof in `fornnare secured to the interior of tlietubu-f lar member 3ft. `These `bearing blocks maybe secured tothe tubularniemberllt by forming openingsi infime tubular member and'providing a. Cavity bf'lwin .the bearing blockz.corresponding thereto sof that the blockA and member may be secured by aweld 38. Trie bearing blocks "35 are' preerablyrormed ofya( hardened Wear-,resistant metal. rliisposed betvveeneach fof the bearing` blockshfandthe' adjacent bearing` ring 32 isla roller crbaugzbeanng se, the 'external diameter 'of the linternal which may be `somewhat less', than diameter ofthe tubular member 3il. t y a A Disposed within-"the tubular member 34 adja.

isf

- sage 48 andv adapted to receivea lubricant nip cent each end thereof isa packing member 40 having annulargrooves 4I and 42 in its inner and outer faces, respectively, andan annular groove 43 centrally disposed in its inner periphleral wall so that avforceparallel` to the axis of the axle l25 in either direction'tends to cause a deformation of the packing member 4Il'tor more tightly grip the' axle 25. v'The packing member 4E) maybe secured to the tubular membery 34, so

that it rotates therewith,` by a set screw. 44`

.threaded through the tubularmember 34 and into 'a 'metal band 45 `conning the outer portion of the bearing member.l

Formed in one `end of the axle 25 is a' mreadedf 'cavity 45 communicating With-a longitudinal pasple 41. At its inner end, the longitudinal'passage 48 communicates with aradial passage 49 which fill the space between the axle 25 and the tubular @member 34, and the"spacelbetween the thrust d sleeve 21" and the tubular member 3 4, so that the roller'or ball bearing 39 and the bearing sleeve The other end of the'axle 25 may y. with a threaded cavity'52 communicating with a longitudinal passage 53 which is connected by a radial passage/54V to a longitudinal groove 55 in' connects vwith alongitudinal groove 50 formedin the surface of the axle 25. The groovef50 termi" i natesadjacent the rear` of the thrust'bloc'k 35.

`The`lubricant nipple.41 may beIof conventional` construction having a passage therethrough normally closed by aball I actuated vby a'compres- 25" v may be forced through the lubricant'nipple l41 sion spring, not shown. Lubricant under pressure and the passages 48 and49and `the groove 55 to 33 lare submerged in the lubricant.

the wall of the axle 25. The groove-55'terminates adjacent the nearer thrust block 35. Threaded into the cavity 52 is a fitting 56 having a passage v51 therethroughfand` a ball 58 therein normally retained in position -tofclose the passage by a spring 59. When'lubrica'nt is being supplied to theinterior of the bearing 'construction through' the lubricantvnipple 41 and the pressure'of lubricantor air between the tubular member 34 and the laxle 25v exceeds apredetermined value, vthe spring 55 is` compressed, permitting the ball 58 tomcve tothe right'andv air or lubricant to be expelled through thefltting. v r

Secured to the tubular member 34 at one end f thereof in any suitable manner, as bywelding, is

an annular ring 60. One of the disks I4 is placed against the annular ring 60 with its convex side adjacent thereto.' A' spacingspool 6|,fhaving enlarged ends 62, is positioned upon the tubular member 34 in engagement with the installed disk I4.v second one of ythe disks I4 is 4then positioned upon the tubular member 34 against the fspa'cing sleeve 6I and rthe disksf'I4 and sleeves 5I -are alternated along thetubular member 34. The left end of the tubular member'3'4'isprovided with external threads`63 upon whicha nut V54 is' threaded against one of the disksy I4 to 'secure the vdisks I4 and spacing spoolsA 6I firmly upon the tubular member 3 4 and against thea'nnular ring 60.-'A lock nut 65 may be threaded againstjthe nut64. j Q f 'A lock washer 66 is placed upon'ea'chend of the axle .25 adjacent the outer face of the' frame on the axle against each of the lockfwa'shers 6 6.

side members-22 and 23, anda nut 61 is threaded As illustrated in'the drawing, a portion4 of each lock washer 66 may bebent around the'irame side member 22 or 23, asindicated by the numeral i 7l;

`69, and another portionfof the lockwashen'inbe provided wardly,1a very considerable thrust vis exerted upon the disks, tending to move the disks and the tubular members 34 alongthe axles 25. In `the front gang, this thrustis taken'by the thrust bearing adjacent the left end of theaxle, and in ythe .rearward gang, this thrust is taken by the .f thrust bearing adjacent thev right end of the axle. f It will be apparent that, by threading the thrust sleeves21 to the left 'for to the right upon the axle 25, thelllbular member 34 and the disks which are secured thereto, can be shifted to the'left or -right relative to the Taxle 25 and the `harrow .frame in order to rotate the disks in the proper position relative to their frame andin proper spaced relationshipfwith the disks of the'other frame.v Likewise, if the thrust blocks'35'or bearing rings v3,2 .became worn,- itis possible to advance the thrust sleeves 21 toward each other upon the' axle -to compensate yfor this Wear. vThejpackfv ing members 4l); substantially prevent the entrance of dirt into thebearing constructitm.` Any ,small'amount of earth or sand that should pass the bearing membersfl must pass through the in- `the lubricant.` `adjacent tically prevented.;` v I n In Fig. 5 is showna modified 'construction'in which parts similar tc those previously described and illustrated `are indicated by corresponding body-fof `lubricant the full lengthof the bearing sleeves 21 inorder to reach the ball orroller bearings 39, sor that thepresence of foreign matter| these bearings is pracnumbers. This construction` diiers'from the construction hereinbeforev `set forth in that there is substitutedv for the bearing sleeve 33 a ball"or roller bearing-1I: If a; roller bearingis employed,

ritcmay be of the needle'fbearing type including a y 'shell' 12l and having 'mounted therein: rollers 13 with tapered ends, as indicated bytheanumeral 14. This construction provides zrolling Contact;k

withthe tubularl sleeve` 34 during its rotation', as distinguished from the sliding contact'provid'ed for 1n the embodiment oti'ny inventionfirst de` `scribed herein. Y

The tubularmember 3,4 andthe bearingsleeves 33 may be formed of stock'. tubing, and thethrust sleeves `21 to' which the thrust rings 32 are se. cured may; likewise, be formed of stock tubing.

The shop work required toadapt ordinary cylindrical rod, to the form shown for theaxle 25"is srnakgll. Since the axle 25 is not subjected to contactwithv any moving parts, it will not require replacement. Shouldthe bearingblocks or bearing rings 32 require replacement, this may be easily, quickly,and inexpensively done.`

`- While that embodiment of my invention here-,1l

inbefore illustrated and described is capable of performing the objects and providing theadvan-I tages primarilystated, there are various other embodiments of my invention likewise capable of performing these objectsy and providing these advantages, and I, therefore,.wish my inventionto v be understood. as not restrictedv to the form herein shown.

I claim as my invention:

i 1.`Infa bearing construction for a disk harrow Y having a frame, an axle non-rotatably` attached thereto, and atubular member rotatable upon the axle and adapted to carry a plurality of disks, the

combination of: .a thrust'block attachedto they!A interior of the tubular member; a thrust sleeve around the axle and associated with the axle and frame whereby it is restrained against rotation and is adjustable for axial movement relative to said axle, saidl sleeve having a reduced portion` the axle and tubular member containing said thrust block, said enlarged end of said thrust sleeve and said rotary bearing member.

2. In a disk harrow including a frame, an axle non-rotatably attached to the frame, and a plurality of disks, the combination of: a tubular member on the axle adaptedfor supporting the disks in spaced relationship; two bearing blocks attached to the interior of said tubular member; two thrust sleeves surrounding the axle and secured thereto, each of said sleeves having an enlarged end portion adjacent one of said thrust blocks and a reduced portion; a thrust bearing member comprising a roller bearing between each thrust block and the enlarged end portion of the adjacent thrust sleeve; a rotary bearing member comprising a sleeve supported upon the re. duced portion of each of said thrust sleeves and rotatable relative thereto and rotatable relative to said tubular member; packing means between said tubular member and said thrust sleeves dening a lubricant chamber;` and means for introducing lubricant through the axle into said charnber to lubricate said thrust bearing members and said rotary bearing members.

3; In a disk harrow including frame members, an axle non-rotatably secured to the frame members, and a plurality of disks, thecombination of a tubular member around the axle for supporting the disks; a bearing block attached to the interior of said tubular member; a thrust sleeve mounted upon the axle having a thrust face adjacent one end thereof; a radial bearingincluding a plurality of rotary bearing elements between said thrust sleeve and said tubular member; a thrust bearing including a plurality of rotary bearing elements `between said thrust face and said bearing block;

packing means defining a lubricant chamber beof said tubular member near one end thereof; a

thrust sleeve mounted upon the axle having a thrust face adjacent one end thereof; a radial bearing including a plurality of rotarybearing elements between said `thrust sleeve and said tubular member; a thrust bearing including a plurality of rotary bearing elements between said thrust face and said bearing block; packing means dening a lubricant chamber between said `tubular member` and the axle; a lubricant supply passage in the axle communicating with said chamber; a fluid discharge passage communicating with said chamber; and closure means in said having a frame, an axlel non-rotatably attached thereto, and a tubular member rotatable upon the axle and adapted to carry a plurality of disks, the combination of: ak thrust block attached to the interior of the tubular member; a thrust sleeve around the axle` and associated ,with the axle and frame` whereby it is restrained against rotation and is adjustable for axial movementrelative to said axle, said sleeve having a reduced portion with an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular member and an enlarged inner end cooperating with said block to provide a thrust bearing; a rotary bearing member on the reduced portion of said sleeve and adjacent said enlarged end of the sleeve to be limitedthereby in axial movement in one direction; an annular retaining member fixed to the interior of said tubular member to rotate therewith and to limit axial movement of said bearing member in the other direction; and annular packing means carried by said retaining member and embracing said axle to define a lubricant chamber between the axle and tubular member containing said block, thrust sleeve, and rotary member.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said retaining member provides two spaced flanges that extend radially inward toward said axle and coni-lne said packing means.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which a roller bearing is provided between said thrust block and thrust sleeve and in which a lubricant channel to the roller bearing is provided in said axle. a

8. In a disk narrow including a frame and an axle non-rotatably attached thereto for carrying a plurality of disks, the combination of: a tubular member disposed around the axle and adapted to support the disks in spaced relationship; two thrust blocks attached to the interior oi said tubular member, said two thrust blocks `dening with` said tubular member and axle a central annular lubricant storage space; two thrust sleeves surrounding the axle, each sleeve having an enlarged end disposed axially inward toward thel corresponding one of said thrust blocks to cooperate therewith and having a reduced outer end; means securing said sleeves against rotation relative to the axle; a rotary bearing member on thefreduced end of each of said thrust sleeves against the enlarged end thereof; an annular retaining member fixed to the interior of said tubing member adjacent the` said lubricant storage space and a lubricant discharge passage from said lubricant storage space to the other of its ends.

. 9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which a series of rotary bearing elements is interposed between each of said thrust blocks and the adjacent thrust sleeve and in whichy each of said passages -communicates with one of said series of bearing elements, each of said enlarged ends of the thrust sleeves being constructedto permit lubricant lto flow from the space containing the corresponding series of` bearing elements to the corresponding oneof said rotary bearing members. l

\ HOWARD B. RAPP. 

